Bulletin for December 20, 2009
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Saturday, December 19 8:30 Vincent Amatucci By the family Sunday, December 20 7:30 Mary and Frank Keegan, Natalie and Chris Dona By Paul and Arlene Monday, December 21 8:30 Robert McCaffrey By Pam and Keith McKinley and family |
Tuesday, December 22 8:30 Irene Clara Nerkowski By the Sullivan family’ Wednesday, December 23 8:30 Carol Russell and Shelley Dutton By the family Saturday, December 26 8:30 Christopher Cote, Cody Medina (for his safety) By Denise Nieva Sunday, December 27 7:30 Paul O’Dell, Jr. 9th Anniversary by Mom and Dad |
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Mass |
Servers: |
| 4:30 |
A. Canzano, K. Clougherty, K. Clougherty, A. Lynch, D. Wassef, M. Wassef |
| 7:30 |
A. Amatucci, A. Amatucci, D. Clemson, J. Goljan, A. Lemoine, P. Magnuson |
| 9:00 |
D. Cabrera, M. Cabrera, A. Ruggieri, M. Travers, S. Travers, W. Wright |
| 11:00 |
J. Canfield, S. Commito, K. Pitney, M. Snow, J. Troio, J. Yarzebski |
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5:30 |
D. Buricatu, A. Card, B. Huie, S. Kuruvilla, B. North, D. North |
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Mass |
Lectors: |
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: |
Sacristan: |
| 4:30 | R. Lespasio |
J. Bellerose, K. Contreras, R. Ferrante, S. Gallerani, S. Goodwin, M. Kiely, M.L. Lordan, M/M Piecz, H. Reynolds, M. Rogers |
L. Bellerose |
| 7:30 | W. Gooley |
M. Gulino, M/M Holland, T. Keegan, M. Lemoine |
F. Mannella |
| 9:00 | A. Daley |
P. Ahearn, J. Barry, M. Benbenek, K. Jefferson, L. Labreche, J. Maliakal, L. Rybacki, J. Zerwas, S. Zybert |
D. Chiampa |
| 11:00 | J. Hawes |
E. Baroni, K. Canfield, C. Cote, E. Korpi, J. McDonald, M. Minnucci, E. Page, M/M Pratt, L. Shuba, M/M Sousa, D. Troio |
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5:30 |
R. Blute |
C. Cruz, D. DeFazio, P. Forts, G. Kuruvilla, M. Serafin |
J. Walent |
Roland Pantanella and Brooke Casey
Repose of the soul of Howard Johnson and for his family; William Schuler diagnosed with stage IV cancer; a woman to gain and participate fully in the perfect treatment for an illness; Kevin to become a father; Paul to accept and pursue health; Millie to adapt to her new living situation; safety for a family, especially D.; Sue to find treatment for her son's illness; T.; Michael's increase of self-control and acceptance of consequences; BS's understanding of personal responsibility; success for John’s research; special intention for a young man’s project; special intention for two young people, safe travel for George and for all families traveling over the Christmas holiday; for an increase of quiet and reflection at this special time of year and special intentions for peace around the world. Continued prayers for Bobby; Sean; Uncle Charlie; Mary Lynn; Elizabeth W.; Lisa's recovery; B.; all those seeking employment; Christine; Lynne; Lyd; Richie; Jackie; Amy; Gary and A. Thanksgiving for; Cindy’s good results from an ultrasound; Iren’s successful shoulder surgery Angela’s successful gall bladder removal and many answered prayers.
Prayer Line: Tracy at 508.842.2279 or Susan at 508.934.0133 or susanbk@townisp.com
Dear Friends,
Today as we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent we know that Christmas is very near. People are finalizing their travel plans while college students are completing their finals and returning home. Last week’s Christmas Benefit Concert and School Christmas Play certainly helped us prepare for the Christmas season. And now we look forward to celebrating the Gift of God’s love on Christmas Eve and Day. With choir rehearsals and pageant practices underway, the outdoor crèche built, ministry schedules being completed, flowers ordered and Giving Tree gifts delivered, we are just about ready for Christmas.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day let us open our church doors with a warm welcome and true sense of Christian hospitality. We will all have a special role to play in welcoming visitors to St. Mary’s and others who may not be with us week in and week out during the year. Some will be guests who have traveled to be with their families. Others may be former parishioners returning home to visit family and friends. Some will be seekers who are simply looking for a place to celebrate Christmas this year. Some will join us who may feel alienated from the Church. There will be some who may feel that they are no longer welcomed by the Church and yet will have the need and spiritual desire to celebrate the Lord’s birth with a community of faith. To everyone who comes we offer a warm welcome and a place at our Eucharistic celebrations. For this is what it means to be “church”. Please consider extending an invitation to a family member, neighbor or friend to join with you at Christmas Mass and let them know how welcomed they will be.
God bless you all.
Msgr. Mike
JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS AT ST. MARY’S
Join us as we celebrate the Birth of our Lord - the Solemnity of Christmas
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Thursday, December 24 |
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| 4:30 pm | Mass in Church | |
| 4:30 pm | Mass at St. John’s High School (Salem Commons) | |
| 7:00 pm | Mass with Children’s Pageant | |
| 12:00 am | Midnight Mass with Festival choir | |
| Lessons & Carols at 11:30 pm | ||
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Friday, December 25 |
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| 9:00 am | Christmas Mass | |
| 11:00 am | Christmas Mass | |
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Sunday, December 20 9:00 RCIC – Math room Monday, December 21 9:15 Weight Training- Mary’s Room |
Tuesday, December 22 7:00 Christmas Choir Rehearsal – Church Wednesday, December 23 1:45 Prayer Service - Church Sunday, December 27 10:15 Grade 4 CCD – School/PC |
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MARY’S FLOWERS The flowers adorning the statue of our JoAnn Detarando Donated by the Grden Family |
ST. MARY’S CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Construction remains on schedule and continues this week with the installation of the windows. We received an email from a parishioner who moved out of Shrewsbury a year ago saying, “The building project has reached jaw-dropping proportions. I drove by the other day after not having been in Shrewsbury for quite a while and I was astonished. It’s going to be magnificent!” If you have not had the opportunity to do so, please consider making a pledge to Our Enduring Covenant during the upcoming Christmas season. Campaign pledge envelopes can be found in the church vestibule and the pastoral center.
BLESSING OF THE CRECHE
God our Father, bless all who gaze
upon this scene of your Son’s birth.
Fill our hearts with the song of angels,
the humility of the creatures,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the longing of the Magi,
and the love of your Holy Family.
This Advent, grant us the virtue of hope,
and bless us throughout the Christmas season
with the joy of your presence.
Help us to discern the signs of your Spirit,
and grant us the courage to follow wherever you lead.
Make of our home a new Bethlehem
where you are ever welcome
and all are welcome in your name.
A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT
The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she has found favor with the Lord and will give birth to a son and call him Jesus. Mary responds that she is the servant of the Lord and accepts His will for her. As we open our hearts to the gift of the Christ-child, in what ways have we acknowledged that we are stewards of the Lord? Do we know God’s will for us? How do we accept it?
BLESSING OF HOME NATIVITY
Choose a prominent place in your home to display your nativity set. As you place each figure in the crib scene, pray the following prayers:
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Mary: May our mother Mary help us to love her Son as much as she did. Joseph: May Joseph watch over us and protect us as he did for the Holy Family. The Shepherds: May we approach the Lord with as much wonder and awe as did those poor shepherds from the fields. The sheep: May we follow Christ our whole lives, dependent on him as sheep are on their shepherd. The donkey and other animals: May we be willing to carry our burdens in life just as the donkey carried Mary and her baby. The Magi: May we offer our gifts and adoration to Christ, the Lord, every day of our lives. The Angel: May the light of Christ radiate from our lives like an angel’s halo. Finally as you place the infant in your manger scene sing “Away in the Manger”. Then conclude with the following prayer. The Christ child: Lord, just as you graced this manger scene, bless our home with your constant care and presence among us. Amen. |
DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS
Wednesday, December 23 at 6:00pm
Please join us as we decorate the church to celebrate the birth of our Lord. There is lots to be done – hanging garland, putting up the Christmas trees and setting up the nativity. Pizza will be served!!
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
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The December packet of offertory envelopes contains one marked Christmas Flowers. Your offerings will assist us in decorating the church for the Christmas season. Please write the names of family members on the envelope so that we can remember them at Mass. |
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Confessions will be heard in the Reconciliation Room/Confessional on Wednesday, December 23rd from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
December 24, 2009 at 7:00 PM
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It’s not too late to participate!! Children and parents share the special meaning of Christmas while participating in the annual Christmas Pageant. Family involvement is needed as we bring the Christmas story to life during Mass on Christmas Eve. Our second rehearsal for adults and children of all ages will be held in the church on Monday, December 21st at 6:00 pm. Please contact Mary Cote with any questions (508.667.5218). |
NEW YEARS MASS SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 31
4:30 pm
Friday, January 1
9:00 am and 11:00 am
GIVING TREE THANKS
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Many thanks to all the parishioners of St. Mary’s who gave so generously to this year’s Giving Tree. Hundreds of gifts were delivered last week to St. Anne’s Human Services and Catholic Charities – Refugee Resettlement Program and Youville House. You have helped to make the coming celebration of Christmas all the more joy-filled for so many children and families. A special word of thanks to Maryanne Damico for coordinating the Giving Tree and for all those who assisted her these past several weeks. |
CHRISTMAS AND YEAR END GIVING
Many people enjoy using Christmas and year’s end as a special time to give to their favorite Catholic institutions and also positively impact their federal and state income taxes. Christmas and year end giving provides many advantages to you
MATCHING GIFTS FOR SUNDAY CONTRIBUTIONS
Two parishioners recently discovered that their employer’s Matching Gifts Program would match their regular Sunday offertory throughout the year up to $1,000. By filling out their company’s paperwork, they were able to double their support of St. Mary’s Parish. Check with your employer on Matching Gift opportunities that you may have.
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The 2010 calendars are available this weekend in the front and side vestibules of the church. We are grateful to Shannon Henry and David Bellerose of Britton Funeral Home and Worcester County Memorials for making these calendars available to us. |
March for Life 2010
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Information and registration forms for the diocesan bus trip to the annual March for Life in Washington, DC on Jan 22, 2010 are now available on our website: www.worcesterdiocese.org/respectlife. The cost is $60 per seat for registrations received by December 31 and $70 after December 31. Register early for the discounted rate and to ensure your seat! |
An American Red Cross holiday blood drive will be held on Thursday, December 31 at the Shrewsbury Senior Center from 8 am – 2 pm. This blood drive is open to the public and residents from all surrounding towns are invited to participate. Appointments are preferred but walk-in donors are also welcome.
ALL DONORS WILL RECEIVE A FREE WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN LIFT TICKET AND A RED CROSS STAINLESS STEEL TRAVEL MUG.
If you are in good health and weigh 110 pounds or more, and have not given blood in the past 56 days you may try to donate.
Please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800.448.3543) or log on to www.givelife.org to schedule an appointment.
NEW Women's Ministry ENDOW update
ENDOW Sessions have been finalized and will start in January. Our new ENDOW ministry will begin Friday mornings January 8th from 9-11am in Mary's Room in the Pastoral Center for 8 weeks. If you haven't registered and would like to, please contact Jen Zerwas at zerwasJ@msn.com or at 508.845.3883 or www.endowonline.com Cost is $60.00, materials need to be ordered by end of December. There is still availability.
St. Mary Stewardship Workshop
This past October we welcomed April and Ed Laughlin to speak at all of the Masses to share with us their journey in life as Catholic stewards. They have spoken at hundreds of parishes throughout the country encouraging fellow Catholics to embrace stewardship as a way of life. The Stewardship Workshop with Ed and April Laughlin will be aired on SPAC TV 28 on the following days:
HEIFER PROJECT
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This Christmas, help to end hunger and poverty, one family at a time. Make this a memorable Christmas by taking part in a growing tradition here at St. Mary's Parish. Give the gift that ends hunger with a hand-up, not a hand out. Instead of material gifts, choose to honor your friends, family or business associates with gifts that help struggling families become self-reliant. Alternative gift giving through Heifer International is the perfect way to share the true meaning of Christmas with the special people in your life. |
Donations received are used to provide struggling families world-wide with the lifesaving gift of livestock and training in its care. Visit the Heifer Project table in the vestibule of church to inquire or purchase your gift. Call Corinne Hetzler @ 508.842.2449 with questions. Thank you.
ECO-JUSTICE MINISTRY
More Green Tips for the holidays
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Copyright © 2009, St. Mary's Parish, Shrewsbury MA.
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